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. 2017 Apr 6;12(4):e0174954.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174954. eCollection 2017.

A rolling phenotype in Crohn's disease

James Irwin  1   2   3 , Emma Ferguson  1   3 , Lisa A Simms  1 , Katherine Hanigan  1 , Franck Carbonnel  4   5 , Graham Radford-Smith  1   2   3
Affiliations

A rolling phenotype in Crohn's disease

James Irwin et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background and aim: The Montreal classification of disease behaviour in Crohn's disease describes progression of disease towards a stricturing and penetrating phenotype. In the present paper, we propose an alternative representation of the long-term course of Crohn's disease complications, the rolling phenotype. As is commonly observed in clinical practice, this definition allows progression to a more severe phenotype (stricturing, penetrating) but also, regression to a less severe behaviour (inflammatory, or remission) over time.

Methods: All patients diagnosed with Crohn's Disease between 01/01/1994 and 01/03/2008, managed at a single centre and observed for a minimum of 5 years, had development and resolution of all complications recorded. A rolling phenotype was defined at each time point based on all observed complications in the three years prior to the time point. Phenotype was defined as B1, B2, B3, or B23 (penetrating and stenotic). The progression over time of the rolling phenotype was compared to that of the cumulative Montreal phenotype.

Results: 305 patients were observed a median of 10.0 (Intraquartile range 7.3-13.7) years. Longitudinal progression of rolling phenotype demonstrated a consistent proportion of patients with B1 (70%), B2 (20%), B3 (5%) and B23 (5%) phenotypes. These proportions were observed regardless of initial phenotype. In contrast, the cumulative Montreal phenotype progressed towards a more severe phenotype with time (B1 (39%), B2 (26%), B3(35%) at 10 years).

Conclusion: A rolling phenotype provides an alternative view of the longitudinal burden of intra-abdominal complications in Crohn's disease. From this viewpoint, 70% of patients have durable freedom from complication over time (>3 years).

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: GRS: Advisory board for, and received consulting fees from Abbvie, Janssen, Ferring, Takeda, and Amgen; FC: Advisory Board for Genentech, Otsuka, Vifor, enterome, MSD (oncology), Ferring, Lecture fees from Abbvie, Mayoly Spindler, Hospira, Pfizer, Takeda; JRI, EF, KH and LAS have no conflict of interest to declare. These interests do not alter our adherence to all PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Cumulative Montreal phenotype (B1 inflammatory, B2 stricturing, B3 penetrating).
Fig 2
Fig 2. Rolling phenotype (B1 inflammatory, B2 stricturing, B3 penetrating, B23 stricturing and penetrating).
Fig 3
Fig 3. Rolling phenotype, only patients with B1 phenotype within one year of diagnosis.
(B1 inflammatory, B2 stricturing, B3 penetrating, B23 stricturing and penetrating).
Fig 4
Fig 4. Rolling phenotype, only patients with B2 phenotype within one year of diagnosis.
(B1 inflammatory, B2 stricturing, B3 penetrating, B23 stricturing and penetrating).
Fig 5
Fig 5. Rolling phenotype, only patients with B3 phenotype within one year of diagnosis.
(B1 inflammatory, B2 stricturing, B3 penetrating, B23 stricturing and penetrating).
Fig 6
Fig 6. Rolling phenotype, only patients with B23 phenotype within one year of diagnosis.
(B1 inflammatory, B2 stricturing, B3 penetrating, B23 stricturing and penetrating).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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